NCT06446765

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to test the ability of mindfulness-based real time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback (mbNF) to increase the benefits of evidence-based psychotherapy for adults with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
150

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_2

Timeline
1mo left

Started Mar 2025

Shorter than P25 for phase_2

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress95%
Mar 2025May 2026

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 30, 2024

Completed
7 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

June 6, 2024

Completed
9 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 13, 2025

Completed
1.2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

May 30, 2026

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

May 30, 2026

Last Updated

June 5, 2025

Status Verified

June 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

1.2 years

First QC Date

May 30, 2024

Last Update Submit

June 4, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

fMRI neurofeedbackmindfulness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Change in within-Default Mode Network (DMN) resting state functional connectivity after one session of neurofeedback (NF)

    Defined as within-DMN connectivity as the resting state seed-based connectivity between core nodes of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Change = post-NF within-DMN connectivity - pre-NF within-DMN connectivity.

    From baseline (immediately before neurofeedback) to immediately after neurofeedback on the same day

  • Change in DMN-Frontoparietal Control Network (FPCN) anticorrelation in resting state functional connectivity data after one session of neurofeedback

    Defined as DMN-FPCN anticorrelation as the fMRI seed-based connectivity from mPFC to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC)). Change = post-NF mPFC-dlPFC anticorrelation - pre-NF mPFC-dlPFC anticorrelation

    From baseline (immediately before neurofeedback) to immediately after neurofeedback on the same day

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Change from baseline in state mindfulness on State Mindfulness Scale (SMS) score on same day after neurofeedback.

    From baseline (immediately before neurofeedback) to immediately after neurofeedback on the same day

Study Arms (2)

mindfulness-based Neurofeedback

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will participate in one session of mindfulness-based fMRI neurofeedback followed by 20 weeks of remote online weekly Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills group.

Behavioral: mindfulness-based Neurofeedback

control Neurofeedback

OTHER

Participants will participate in one session of control fMRI neurofeedback followed by 20 weeks of remote online weekly Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills group.

Other: control Neurofeedback

Interventions

Participants will complete one session of mindfulness-based fMRI neurofeedback prior to 20 weeks of remote online weekly DBT skills group.

mindfulness-based Neurofeedback

Participants will complete one session of control fMRI neurofeedback prior to 20 weeks of remote online weekly DBT skills group.

control Neurofeedback

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 60 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • age 18-60,
  • be able to provide written informed consent,
  • meet criteria for BPD on semi-structured clinical interview,
  • able to plan to keep any prescribed medications and psychotherapy constant during the study
  • fluent in English.

You may not qualify if:

  • current DBT psychotherapy outside the study
  • lifetime primary psychotic disorder or Bipolar I disorder
  • developmental disorder (e.g. autism)
  • history of learning disorder
  • moderate or severe substance use disorder in the last 6 months
  • active suicidal ideation with intent or plan in the past 3 months
  • history of major medical or neurologic disorder
  • MRI contraindications, including pregnancy
  • poor performance on reading task (WRAT \> 11 errors)
  • newly prescribed medications in the past 8 weeks
  • daytime sedating medications (e.g. benzodiazepines, opiates, sedating neuroleptics)
  • any scheduled daily benzodiazepines
  • change in psychotherapy type or frequency in the past 12 weeks.
  • At the discretion of the study PI
  • Eligibility will be determined by study personnel.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Connecticut Mental Health Center

New Haven, Connecticut, 06519, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Jones KG, Vandewouw MM, Awasthi J, Alario AA, Bauer C, Brewer B, Campbell N, Denning D, Greene KD, Hammoud J, Hinds O, Huffman S, Maerker C, Paprotna S, Qiu M, Swinchoski B, Taylor A, Waite E, Wighton P, Whaley M, Papa J, Gordon KD, Hampson M, Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Fineberg SK. A protocol for MIndfulness-based Neurofeedback to augment DBT psychotherapy for adults with Borderline Personality Disorder (MIND-BPD). medRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Nov 19:2025.11.18.25340531. doi: 10.1101/2025.11.18.25340531.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Borderline Personality Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personality DisordersMental Disorders

Study Officials

  • Sarah K Fineberg, MD PhD

    Yale University

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Sarah K Fineberg, MD PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
TRIPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 30, 2024

First Posted

June 6, 2024

Study Start

March 13, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 30, 2026

Last Updated

June 5, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

Sharing will occur as required by NIMH through the National Data Archive.

Locations